February 14th 2010
Valentine's Day 2010
We called all of the grandparents, the girls played their lap harp a lot, Daddy played a bunch of games with Zoë and Abby while Enzo helped me make lasagna and garlic toast for dinner. The girls got to eat some of their candies that Nonna had sent, and were sent off to bed with their throats coated in raw honey.
Abby @ 6 years, 2 months
Zoë @ 6 years, 2 months
Enzo @ 1 year, 4 months, 21 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 7:54 PM |
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Comments:
February 16, 2010 07:19:37 PM posted by Nonna
Poor little "sweeties' lets hope for a good healthy week. Of course we are getting snow and it is suppose to come your way. Sled riding time!! xxoo
January 23rd 2010
And it starts, the countdown to Mommy's birthday has begun
Abby @ 6 years, 1 month, 8 days
Zoë @ 6 years, 1 month, 8 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 3 months, 29 days
Holidays posted by christopher at 1:03 PM |
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Comments:
January 24, 2010 01:29:08 PM posted by Nonna
Be patient....you have a few days left before your big day!! Love you!!
January 26, 2010 07:41:07 AM posted by Laura
I have to say that I have not been expecting gifts all month long. :) I've just kept an eye on the mailbox as it gets close - for cards and such from the people that do tend to send me things.
January 1st 2010
New Year's Day
Abby @ 6 years, 17 days
Zoë @ 6 years, 17 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 3 months, 7 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 1:16 PM |
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Comments:
January 10, 2010 06:37:41 PM posted by Nonna
Happy New Year !! 2010!! Love you all !!
December 25th 2009
Christmas 2009
First Zoë and Abby got to open up their bathrobes from Grandma Cindy and Papa Norm, after immediately getting them on and all tied up, we moved on to stockings. Enzo kept trying to bite into everyone's clementines, which were found in the toe of the stockings, so we had to hide those. Abby got a stuffed horse and Zoë got her long lost barking dog (they'd asked for a horse and puppy in their letters to Santa). Both of the girls got a lot of nice outfits, pretty earrings from Zia Elizabeth, shampoo and chapstick, work gloves from Papa Norm and Grandma Cindy, games, puzzles, mermaid Barbie's from Grampy, kid sized snuggie blankets and hand puppets from Nonno Ernie and Martha, Crayola art boxes from Aunt Barb and Uncle Rich, and quilts made by Emmy the Great, among other things.
Enzo was funny to watch, having gotten the hang of gift opening, though he wanted to help others open their gifts more than sit and open his own. He too got some cute outfits and much needed undershirt onesies, a bilingual car plus a play table from Nonno Ernie and Martha, two wooden spoons from Zia Elizabeth from the Virgin Islands, mega blocks from Aunt Barb and Uncle Rich, books and cars and books that are cars... and then there's Jake.
Jake is what we've named the gorilla that Enzo is absolutely terrified of. It came from Nonno Ernie and when you press its hand it flaps its arms and makes gorilla noises. At first I thought we'd just put it away for a while or get him used to it so he's not scared, then Chris happened upon the realization that it's an excellent stair climbing deterrent. Normally we spend half our day getting Enzo away from the stairs, (old fancy banisters make it so a gate won't work there) but with Jake on the steps Enzo won't even leave the living room. He'll get close and then run back for one of us to pick him up, all the while squealing like crazy. Even if he sees one of us go into the hallway, where he knows Jake is at, he'll scream and scream until we come back into the living room. I'm sure we're doing permanent damage that will come out in therapy years from now, but at the moment it's amusing - and helping - us.
In the afternoon the kids and I went over to the Valley's to say hello to them and Grampy and Uncle Tommy. Reanna hadn't given Elijah his presents from us yet, so she let him open them with us there. Uncle Tommy had a present for each of the girls, bush babies. (Not real, thank goodness, but the girls love them) We left to get back home for dinner just as they were all sitting down for their meal. At home Daddy was ready to serve out the roast and vegetables and then we all split some canoli, brownie sundae, and tort. Just before getting the kids ready for bed, my Nephew Patrick arrived. He had stopped by at the Valley's, but just missed us and since we haven't seen him in a long time, he stopped by here after leaving there. The girls were able to say hello before heading up to bed and overtired Enzo all showed off his charm before finally nursing and crashing. After Patrick left, us and Nonna chatted a bit and then we all got our tired bodies into bed.
Abby @ 6 years, 11 days
Zoë @ 6 years, 11 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 3 months, 2 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 11:46 PM |
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Comments:
December 26, 2009 08:56:30 PM posted by Grandma Cindy
Merry Christmas
The bathrobes look great. So many toys. Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures.
December 30, 2009 11:41:48 AM posted by Celeste A. C. Gaver
Please post a picture of the gorilla. That story is hilarious! Merry Christmas to you all!
December 24th 2009
Christmas Eve 2009
We had shrimp scampi for dinner and then all three of the kids sat in front of the tree to open their Christmas Eve gifts. Enzo tore into his paper and then was even interested to see what was inside... jammies! He was trying to put them on his head and everything, then he got interested in what the girls were opening... also jammies, surprise surprise. Zoë and Abby ran upstairs to get into their (pre-washed) pj's right away and then got to have a sweet treat before getting their teeth brushed, while I got Enzo changed and ready for bed.
Abby @ 6 years, 10 days
Zoë @ 6 years, 10 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 3 months, 1 day
Holidays posted by Laura at 9:12 PM |
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Comments:
December 26, 2009 10:09:35 PM posted by Grandma Cindy
Enzo, you are creative with your clothes. Such a happy boy
December 18th 2009
Birthday gifts part two
Abby @ 6 years, 3 days
Zoë @ 6 years, 3 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 2 months, 24 days
Holidays posted by christopher at 10:22 AM |
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December 17th 2009
Nonna arrives for the holidays
Abby @ 6 years, 3 days
Zoë @ 6 years, 3 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 2 months, 24 days
Holidays posted by christopher at 9:15 PM |
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Comments:
January 10, 2010 07:34:45 PM posted by Nonna
I was surprised an very happy that daddy brought the girls to pick me up.....it was just GREAT!!
December 13th 2009
Are holiday birthdays the best?
Abby @ 5 years, 11 months, 29 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 11 months, 29 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 2 months, 19 days
Holidays posted by christopher at 9:42 AM |
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Comments:
December 13, 2009 06:52:53 PM posted by Nonna
Oh! My goodness.....what a mass of presents. I know I can't wait to have a birthday celebration with you both on the 18th!! xxoo
December 2nd 2009
Letters to Santa
Zoë's: Dear Santa Clause, I hope you're doing well. I really want a new Barbie, a puppy, and hot water.
Abby's: Dear Santa Clause, I want a horse for Christmas. I also would like hot water for Christmas.
I'm thinking the hot water was to earn brownie points with me. They love showering at the Y and excuses to go to the Valley's so often. Zoë will be getting her wish for a puppy, as I decided I'd bring down from storage a play puppy that barks and all that that she found a new fondness for when she was upstairs helping me. Abby unfortunately will not be able to get her big ticket item, unless I can find her a groovy girl horse or something.
Next I had the girls write down family members they could think of and what they think those family members would like. Zoë surprised me with how thoughtful she was, actually thinking about each person and their profession or likes. Abby hard a hard time getting past the season and Christmas decorations, but she tried.
Zoë's: I would like good things for my family.
Auntie Reanna: Toys for Elijah
Uncle Corey: New tools
Grandma Cindy: dog clicker
Papa Norm: tools for work
Nonno: trivet
Martha: tea set
Nonna: pair of gloves
Auntie Elizabeth: chef hat
Uncle Matt: oven mitts
Aunt Caitlin: new ring
Uncle Tommy: Christmas candy
Grampy: subway gift card
Abby: stuffed teddy bear
Daddy: new laptop
Mommy: hot water
Enzo: train set with remote control
Emmy the great: Gingerbread to make gingerbread men Love Zoë.
Abby's: I would like my family to have things they'd like.
Mommy: hot water
Daddy: my good behavior
Enzo: toy horse
Zoë: puppy and a butterfly net
Grandma Cindy: a book
Papa Norm: handmade bulb
Emmy the great: plane ticket to come here
Nonna: Christmas wreath with a bow
Uncle Matt: plow
Aunt Caitlin: coat
Auntie Elizabeth: bakers tray
Nonno: bag of candy
Martha: lights for a Christmas window
Uncle Corey: camera
Auntie Reanna: bookmark
Elijah: little bike with training wheels
Grampy: comforter
Uncle Tommy: toothbrush
Some of them really make me laugh, others are pretty sweet. I'm surprised neither of the girls wrote down a Honda Odyssey for me... or as they put it, a car with a slider door. :)
Abby @ 5 years, 11 months, 19 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 11 months, 19 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 2 months, 9 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 9:45 PM |
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Comments:
December 6, 2009 03:50:53 PM posted by Nonna
What a beautiful letter and very thoughtful gifts.
December 1st 2009
Christmas Photo 2009
Abby @ 5 years, 11 months, 17 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 11 months, 17 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 2 months, 7 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 2:38 PM |
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Comments:
December 5, 2009 05:14:14 PM posted by Nonna
How beautiful !! Great looking children!!
December 5, 2009 06:51:33 PM posted by Raissa
All looking very elegant, good job!! Big abraços all the way from Braziiil!
November 26th 2009
Thanksgiving 2009
We made two pumpkin pies and had those for dessert with a bit of whipped cream. Besides the food, we put up some of our Christmas decorations and played some games together.
Abby @ 5 years, 11 months, 11 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 11 months, 11 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 2 months, 2 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 6:39 PM |
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November 25th 2009
Sous-Chefs
Today they got to be a part of all of the prep for tomorrow's meal. At first we weren't even going to do anything, except some chinese food buffet, but then at the store Chris picked up a hen to cook in the crock pot and it grew from there. The girls helped peel and wash a bunch of vegetables to put in with the bird (after they watched me rub it with garlic butter, which they thought was gross to see) then I figured we might as well make a huge batch of mashed sweet potatoes and you've got to have some garlic mashed potatoes and well we might as well make pumpkin pie since we do have the canned pumpkin hanging around. Tomorrow we'll make the stuffing and I'm sure we have at least one of those canned cranberry sauce things in the cupboard.
I suppose it may make a difference who the chef they are assisting is, as to what level of patience and jitters they have. I heard more than once about certain little girls wishing Zia Elizabeth lived with us, how great that would be, how they'd cook cool stuff all of the time and get to be her sous-chefs. When I was getting ready to do the pies, Chris suggested that I use the graham cracker mix Elizabeth made while here, instead of making crusts for them. We had enough for two pie dishes, but on the second one the mix didn't quite get all of the way up the sides. As Zoë watched this she expressed her concern with not having enough and how would we make more. Abby said that we could just use the recipe and make more but Zoë protested something along the lines of nobody in the world being able to make this graham cracker mix besides Auntie Elizabeth and oh what a tragedy it would be if we couldn't stretch the amount we had and oh if only she lived with us.
We made it work, made two pumpkin pies plus a little pyrex dish of the extra filling with no crust. The girls were already in bed when we got the bird and veggies out of the crock-pot, but they'll be excited to taste it tomorrow, having been a part of making it. We decided to pick apart the bird and put it back into the crock with all of the juices and veggies and some extra seasonings and cook it overnight on low to have chicken soup with all of our sides tomorrow.
Abby @ 5 years, 11 months, 11 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 11 months, 11 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 2 months, 2 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 8:50 PM |
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November 26, 2009 12:32:58 PM posted by caitlin muro
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 22nd 2009
Thanksgiving Church Service
It ended up that there wasn't another American Indian costume at church, so Abby got her pilgrim get-up on. Zoë, seeing everyone else get into the aprons, hats, etc., lost her excitement over being able to wear her costume and expressed her desire to dress up like everyone else. I told her that she'd made her choice and had to stick with it, besides it was great that she was representing the Indian side of the deal - not to mention she didn't have other clothes on under her dress.
Abby @ 5 years, 11 months, 7 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 11 months, 7 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 1 month, 28 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 2:49 PM |
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Comments:
November 29, 2009 06:38:43 PM posted by Nonna
Yes, Zoe we must not forget if not for the Indians the Pilgrims might have starved. A joke for you girls... What kind of music did the Pilgrims listen to? Plymouth Rock!!
October 31st 2009
Halloween Festivities
First we went to Home Depot, where there were candy dishes set up at certain stations and then a haunted house. It really wasn't so spooky, but neither of the girls were willing to open the door and then when I opened it they were clutching us, not wanting to go in. I had Abby's hand, and was holding Enzo and proceeded to walk on in, but Abby pulled me back out, total fear had overcome her. Chris and I said we were going in anyway, so naturally the girls reluctantly followed and realized it wasn't so bad. Enzo on the other hand was gripping his arms around my next and crying the whole time (a total of maybe a minute) until I exited, which surprised me.
After nap we went to an outdoor harvest party down the road with fun inflatables and games. Luckily the weather was oddly, and useasonably warm, in the low 70's! The girls did the inflatable race thing first, then the big inflatable slide, which looked like so much fun that I decided to take Enzo down. Besides getting candy at the other game stations, the slide was definitely the girls' favorite thing there. And, there was no admission fee or any fees for inflatables and games. (There was also an inflatable bouncy castle and an inflatable battle zone of some sort, that the girls begged to do but were denied)
From there we headed to the mall, where we'd seen that there would be mall wide trick-or-treating. It turned out to be a mad house, with both sides of the walkways filled with lines of people walking around the outskirts collecting candy. We decided to leave there before we'd hit all of the stores and got some dinner before heading into town to watch the Halloween parade. Here the girls got even more candy, as some of the parade walkers would randomly throw candy as they passed.
Abby @ 5 years, 10 months, 17 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 10 months, 17 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 1 month, 7 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 10:37 PM |
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Comments:
November 4, 2009 10:31:53 AM posted by Grandma Cindy
sounds like you were a little scared but it turned out okay.
Remember the huricane wind machine. It was scary at first, but then you realized that it was so bad after all.
sometimes things that are scary have a good ending and sometimes scary things end and that is a good thing.
there wasn't one trick or treater that had a costume like yours.
Papa Norm had fun handing out candy while Grandma Cindy took the dogs for a walk and visited the neighbor lady who was dressed up as Tigger
November 9, 2009 05:48:07 PM posted by Nonna
Happy Halloween!!
You all looked so cute and Enzo did look like a turtle!! He made me :) !!
October 23rd 2009
Halloween Party at the YMCA
The first thing we did was hit the bounce house. Zoë and Abby were the first ones in, and I was going to let Enzo go in with me, but then some bigger kids came so I kept Enzo out. Zoë and Abby had a good time bouncing around in there though. Next the girls did a relay race with another child and Zoë won! She was so excited that she won, even though the other child was an older boy. After that we moved on to sugar cookie decorating and treat bag decorating. Even Enzo got to decorate a bag. The girls made some magnet ghosts and got their faces painted. Then there were a couple of 'ball' tosses and ring tosses. Enzo joined in on these, and even though he walked right up to the container and dropped the ball (goulish squishy thing) and the toad into their buckets, he still got prizes... a skeleton straw and a noise maker. We stayed for about an hour and then headed home to get our little party goers to bed.
Abby @ 5 years, 10 months, 8 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 10 months, 8 days
Enzo @ 1 year, 29 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 6:43 PM |
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July 26th 2009
2nd Annual Merrimack River Maritime Festival
Abby @ 5 years, 7 months, 11 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 7 months, 11 days
Enzo @ 10 months, 2 days
Holidays posted by christopher at 6:19 PM |
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Comments:
July 31, 2009 04:17:38 PM posted by Nonna
Looks like everyone had a great time!!
July 5th 2009
Fireworks 2009
Zoë and Abby snuggled up on each side of Chris on the picnic blanket, while Enzo and stood on the sidewalk. Enzo had woken up as soon as we stepped outside to walk to our fireworks watching location, so he was awake to witmess his first fourth of July fireworks. He watched them in the sky for a while, then grew more interested in the crowd, not phased by the noise at all. Last year the girls said some funny things while watching the show, and this year was no different. Zoë said, "I wish I were a firework so I could go boom in the sky." Yeah, she was pretty sleepy. Back at home she complained of a headache and had a slight fever... I told her that's what happens when you stay up past your bedtime.
Abby @ 5 years, 6 months, 22 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 6 months, 22 days
Enzo @ 9 months, 12 days
Holidays posted by Laura at 10:21 PM |
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June 21st 2009
Father's Day 2009
Abby @ 5 years, 6 months, 6 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 6 months, 6 days
Enzo @ 8 months, 27 days
Holidays posted by christopher at 5:39 PM |
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June 6th 2009
Free Ice-cream Day at Friendly's
Abby @ 5 years, 5 months, 22 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 5 months, 22 days
Enzo @ 8 months, 12 days
Holidays posted by christopher at 2:13 PM |
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May 25th 2009
Memorial Day at the Valley's
Abby @ 5 years, 5 months, 10 days
Zoë @ 5 years, 5 months, 10 days
Enzo @ 8 months, 1 day
Holidays posted by christopher at 7:19 PM |
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